2014-2015 Issue 4 (November 21, 2014)

in this issue

DEMAILLÉ5

TEENSUICIDE6-7

FALLSPORTS12 pantherprowler.org

PANTHER PROWLER Friday November 21, 2014 Issue IV Newbury Park High School

456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320

WASC takes the school by swarm Daulton Beck Features Editor Sam Ellison Sports Editor The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) was on campus from Nov. 16-19 to visit classrooms as well as meet with students, parents, and staff members.

As one of six regional accrediting associations, WASC evaluates more than 4,500 high schools to determine if they are “trustworthy institutions of learning,” according to its website. In other words, WASC determines whether or not high school diplomas are valid.

In order to prepare for the visit, Karen Kikuchi, math teacher and the school’s WASC coordinator, led a selfstudy process that has taken place over the past year. “Starting last fall, we asked ourselves: what is the school doing well, and what are the areas of improvement?”

Kikuchi said. “Based on the areas of improvement, we created the school action plan.” The staff will work to implement this action plan over the next few years.

The first goal of the plan is to successfully implement Common Core, which will replace California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) in the spring of 2015. In addition, the staff will be working to integrate more technology into classroom instruction. Lastly, the action plan includes provisions to increase support for students and encourage them to utilize resources the school already offers, including counseling and

clubs.

Linda Saeta, visiting WASC evaluator and Claremont High School math teacher, spent her time on campus evaluating the student culture. “I’ve been very impressed … the pride that the students and teachers have comes through strong,” she said.

Saeta is responsible for writing a report on her findings, including what the school is doing well and what it can do better. This will be combined with those of the other evaluators to create a comprehensive profile of the school that will be available in three to five months.

The evaluation process is categorized into five separate criteria: organization; curriculum; instruction; assessment and accountability; and support for personal and academic growth of students.

The WASC evaluators shared their observations in the Performing Arts Center during lunch on Nov. 19.

Overall, the evaluators agreed that teachers should develop an effective system for studying student performance data. Also, the assessors added that the teaching curriculum should align with the Common Core standards.

“The biggest thing was they talked about how much pride we have as a school, how successful our school is, and how great our students are,” Principal Josh Eby said. “That’s just the best feeling to have as a principal.”

Show off your stuff- Discussing academic pursuits, the campus environment, and possible improvements to be made, the WASC evaluators met with students during lunch on Nov. 17. In about five months, the results of the evaluation process will be made public. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

A WORK IN PROGRESS

ASG works to update school constitution

Rachna Deshpande Staff Writer

Looking ahead- Carly Adams, dean of activities, addresses ASG during their Constitutional Convention as they discuss possible changes that could be made this year. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

For the past three weeks, the Associated Student Government (ASG) has been meeting to revise the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) current constitution. The constitution is drafted and enforced by ASG, but applies to the entirety of the school. Discussion has focused around topics such as requirements to be a member of the ASG class, what standards ASG is responsible for upholding, and the structure of elections.

“We have only begun recently … but we are definitely adding on sections and articles to accommodate for changes in our ASG class,” said Justin Kawaguchi, sophomore and ASG member. “One thing that we’ve added is descriptions of each of the ASG commissions so that the student body can fully understand what we do every morning to plan events for the school,” said Kawaguchi.

Every year, ASG changes the constitution in order to keep it up-to-date and relevant. This year, ASG is “focusing on the roles of the ASG members, students, and administration,” to balance out the three branches, according to Steven Owens, sophomore.

In comparison to the constitutions in years previous, it will “follow a similar structure but will be much more updated and easier to navigate,” Kawaguchi said. Sam

Klein, sophomore, added that while the new constitution resembles club constitutions, it is longer, and covers a broader spectrum.

Once it is finished, Owens says the constitution will also include changes to rules regarding clubs and interest groups to “help separate what clubs need money and what clubs just like to hang out.” Clubs that host events need an account for funding.

However, there are clubs on campus that can be classified as interest groups (such as those based around discussion or eating food) and don’t require accounts. ASG has been focusing specifically on establishing this division.

After discussing an issue, ASG takes into account all their members’ opinions. In order for a final conclusion to be reached regarding the constitution, two-thirds of the ASG class must agree on the motion. Then, it must be ratified by Student Congress to finally be sent to the administration for final approval.

While ASG has been hard at work making these revisions, they predict that completions won’t be finished for at least another month. “We are just getting started and have so much more room for improvement. There are limitless possibilities for changes,” Kawaguchi said.

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news Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

News in brief Shreya Chattopadhyay Sports Editor

Mural, new turf, and pool deck vandalized On the night of Monday, Nov. 10, the football field and pool deck were vandalized with obscene symbols and statements. The vandals also defecated on the field.

“It was bad and disgusting, they wrote symbols all over our field,” Jaden Allen, sophomore, said.

Allen saw the field before the school’s maintenance crew had a chance to clean it up. He was appalled by the symbols and the

feces he saw on the field.

Principal Joshua Eby said the vandalism was first reported on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at which point the mess on the field was cleaned up by members of the maintenance crew. The spray paint was removed the next day.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department said that the vandals remain unknown but an investigation is currently taking place.

Follow us at @NPProwler Measure I school bond passes, representatives elected In the Nov. 4 election, Measure I, a school bond for the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), passed by a large margin of 65.28%.

The bond extends the current tax rate of $32.70 for every $100,000 of assessed property value for the next 20 years to raise money for CVUSD schools. To ensure taxpayers are aware of where their money is going, CVUSD has outlined a faculty needs analysis and technology plan, which states that the funds from Measure I will be spent directly on improving school safety and repairing school facilities, as well as upgrading labs and classrooms. The district has also assured taxpayers that “Measure I will not be used to fund existing staff salaries, benefits, pensions, or to increase school administration.”

Jeff Baarstad, CVUSD superintendent, has promised that the district “will move forward to make sure the funds (from Measure I) are spent effectively … and with full transparency.”

Along with the passing of Measure I, a number of new representatives for the area were elected. New member John Andersen was elected to the CVUSD school board. Thousand Oaks City Council Member Jacqui Irwin was elected to the California State Assembly, defeating opponent Rob McCoy. Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley was reelected in a close race against State Assembly Member Jeff Gorell.

“Interstellar” integrated into classroom learning Raevyn Walker Copy Editor

The difference between street art and graffiti - Vandals spraypainted sunglasses onto the artwork near the basketball courts on Nov. 11. They also drew symbols on the pool deck and defecated on the new turf. The Thousand Oaks Police Department is currently investigating. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Christopher Nolan’s science fiction movie “Interstellar” is an integral part of the computer science principles class. Using an application created by Google called “Interstellar for Educators”, computer science teacher Richard Kick was able to use the film as a teaching tool.

Some topics that appear in the movie, such as recursive drawing and binary code, are explained in Google’s curriculum in the context of “Interstellar”. After completing the science and math curriculum from the program, Kick’s computer science principles class had the opportunity to view a private screening of “Interstellar” on Nov. 13. Kick hopes that teachers of all subjects take the opportunity to implement “Interstellar” into their curriculum.

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opinion Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

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GOING GREEN Is legalizing recreational marijuana really worth it?

According to the 2013 Monitoring the Future study, 45.5% of high school seniors have tried marijuana, making it the most common illegal drug used by teenagers. Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. recently joined Colorado and Washington in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Is legalizing recreational marijuana the right step to take?

The short answer is: yes. In addition to making the cannabis market more transparent and regulated, legalization will make the drug harder to buy illegally while improving the education and research surrounding it.

So what is marijuana, and how will laws restrict access to it? Marijuana is made of the dried parts of the cannabis plant, which contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a hallucinogenic chemical that affects the brain’s memory, reward, sensory and cognitive systems. As a recreational drug, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that marijuana has an addiction rate of nine percent, while tobacco and alcohol have addiction rates of 32% and 15%, respectively. No deaths caused by overdose of marijuana have been reported; at worst, an overdose can cause seizures and a trip to the hospital. However, when used heavily at a young age, it can cause permanent memory damage and emotional impairment. For this reason, states that have already legalized recreational marijuana require adults 21 years and older to show their I.D. Additionally, adults can only purchase up to one-fourth of an ounce per single transaction from a licensed seller, and only one ounce can be possessed at a time.

Legalization of recreational marijuana presents an important shift in the marijuana market. Supplies will increase as more cannabis is legally grown, causing prices to come down and minimizing black market sales. Diminishing the black market will give teens less opportunities to purchase drugs on the streets. Furthermore, registered dispensaries must follow government rules for age requirements and quantity limitations. Therefore, teens will face great obstacles in getting their hands on marijuana. Since marijuana inflicts the most damage on young users with developing brains, these restrictions will keep the drug out of the hands of adolescents and protect their health.

In addition, legalizing recreational marijuana will remove the criminalization of and stigma surrounding marijuana use and allow for more extensive research, education, and understanding of it. Since marijuana is currently a taboo substance, it’s difficult for scientists to obtain the necessary materials and approval for research. Without fear of imprisonment, marijuana users will be more forthcoming with their experiences, and addicts will be more willing to seek help. Extensive studies can be conducted on its true short-term and long-term effects, and the real dangers and benefits of marijuana can be documented. Only with these in-depth investigations can teens reliably decide for themselves whether smoking marijuana is something they’d like to try when they grow older.

After legalization, government regulations will require sellers to label products in detail so buyers will know what they are actually getting. Marijuana named “Blue Moonstone” and “Endless Skies” will no longer only have abstract descriptions of “fruity, dark aromas” or “lovely green hue.” Much like nicotine and alcohol levels are reported for cigarettes and spirits, the concentration of the active ingredients will need to be labelled, thereby enhancing the safety of marijuana consumption and keeping dangerous man-made imitations off the shelves.

Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana fear that legalization will make the drug more accessible, which will lead to increased teenage use and addiction; however, these fears have been invalidated. According to results from the 2013 Healthy Kids Colorado survey, the usage of marijuana has not increased since its legalization for recreational use; in fact, the number has dropped. 20% reported that they had smoked it in the past month, and 37% reported they had tried it before; in 2011, those numbers were higher at 22% and 39%. This shows that legalization does not increase teenage usage.

Opponents also argue that legalizing marijuana sends the wrong message that smoking marijuana is not a big deal. According to the same survey, after legalization, adolescents did perceive marijuana as less harmful; however, this perception change did not lead to more usage. The issue is not the perception; it’s that society should give people a truthful, balanced view of marijuana’s effects on their bodies, so they can make an educated choice for themselves.

America was built on the basis of freedom and individual rights. Citizens can choose their own religion, values and lifestyle, and marijuana should be one of those decisions that people can make for themselves. Legalization of recreational marijuana is the much needed step to allow this freedom of choice while protecting adolescents from its harm.

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45.5% Percentage of high school seniors who have tried marijuana

PANTHER PROWLER 2014-2015 staff

Editors-in-Chief Courtney Brousseau Grace O’Toole Copy Editors Monica Boedigheimer Adrianna Robakowski Raevyn Walker Photographers Chief / Samantha Meyer Daulton Beck Haley Berardinelli

News Editors Ad Managers Entertainment Editors Monica Boedigheimer Chief / Tazaieen Sayeda Adrianna Robakowski Mariam Syed Rachna Deshpande Raevyn Walker Opinion Editors Daulton Beck Kellie Levine Tazaieen Sayeda Features Editors Haley Berardinelli Nevnit Gill

Online Editors Victoria Juan Mariam Syed Graphic Artist Michael Hellard DPS Editor Victoria Juan

Staff Writers Alyssa Boedigheimer Rachna Deshpande Lindsay Filgas Angela Swartz Sports Editors Shreya Chattopadhyay Sam Ellison

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed.

The Panther Prowler is published every three weeks throughout the school year by American Foothill Publishing Co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org.

The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below.

Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

Adviser Michelle Saremi

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opinion Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

Not-so-common cold

Life after Q Adrianna Robakowski Copy Editor Every student at our school has an account on Q. This powerful tool allows students and parents to check their current academic status at all hours of the day. Despite the advantages of having our grades at our fingertips, there are definite drawbacks. Are our lives really better because we have Q? There are a few amazing things about Q. It allows us students to stay on top of our grades in a way that our parents were never able to. You don’t have to go ask a teacher what your grade is - instead, you can just do it yourself. This saves us time and also saves us from becoming that annoying kid that is always bugging the teacher.

Personally, I think the most brilliant thing about Q is that you have the opportunity to bug teachers if they make a mistake in the gradebook. Without becoming that annoying kid that I just mentioned, you can politely point out when the teacher gave you

half credit on something you actually turned in on time. Because you can see every single item the teacher enters into Q, you can double check to make sure things are right.

Power to the people!

A definite double-edged sword situation is that your parents have a password allowing them to check your grades on Q. This feature of Q may or may not have been the cause of many lectures and battles over grades throughout homes in Newbury Park.

With the great power Q gives us comes great responsibility. I’m sure you’ve personally experienced or know someone who has had a teacher refuse to round up because they say the student, “should’ve been monitoring their grade.” As much as these teachers have a point, I still don’t like it. I want to have my cake and eat it too, because I’m a high schooler and refuse to believe that the world doesn’t work that way.

Q has become a problem in my own life.

I, admittedly, am actually obsessed with Q. Whenever I’m not busy doing something, I’m checking my Q. It’s slowly starting to take over my life, inching its way into every aspect of my being. There is also a nifty mobile phone-adapted Q so you can better check your grades on the go. This is when it got much worse for me, because it’s so easy to check. If someone you know or love becomes addicted to Q, please go see your counselor for help. Or maybe see a psychiatrist if it gets bad.

Despite the positives of Q, the negatives are there and they are big. We may be less stressed throughout the term without Q and we may argue less with our parents, but Q allows us to be better students. Bottom line?

Be careful. Q is a beautiful thing and can make your life much easier, as long as it is used with caution.

You have the right to not remain silent Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor Teenagers have a voice that deserves to be heard, as well as first-hand experience with relevant issues that need to be brought to the attention of politicians. But for whatever reason, teenagers just aren’t going to the polls.

Maybe it’s because to a young adult, policy matters seem far away and irrelevant to a high school and college lifestyle. With “real life” right around the corner, concerns about moving out, attending college, or finding a job far outweigh matters that are on the ballot, such as California’s water system or the fine print of gambling contracts. And with homework, sports, and other after-

school activities, voting on a Tuesday seems like an unnecessary waste of time, especially when the propositions to be voted on seem to have no effect on a teenager’s life.

Or possibly, teenagers think that they are not “qualified” to vote, or don’t have the “life experience” needed to make political decisions. In fact, the reality is completely different. Youth are often an unheard or underrepresented population in politics; however, that does not mean that they have nothing to say.

The people who are making decisions about car or house loans, funding for college, and minimum wage are the people

we vote for -- or should be voting for. But instead, politicians are chosen by an older demographic, whose concerns are anything but the struggles of young adulthood.

Our representatives don’t have us on their radar, and have no motive to care about us teenagers-almost-adults. However, there is a simple way we could change this -- voting.

Take some time to think about this. You have a voice, and people will respond to it. These next few years aren’t going to be easy, but someone in Sacramento or even Washington, D.C., could help relieve some of the stress -- you just have to help put them there.

Teaching into your DMs Angela Swartz Staff Writer With over 232 million users, Twitter has emerged as a popular social networking site for teens to talk about what they just ate, when they last pooped on the field, or to let the world know when it’s raining. However, with the increased reach of such technology, Twitter has begun to appeal to a new crowd: teachers. Now, students’ online lives are crossing paths with those of teachers, and rather than seeing Mr. LaRocca at Trader Joe’s, we see him on our Twitter timelines.

I know this comes as a big surprise, but teachers are just like us and can be hip sometimes. They too use social media to connect with others -- now, they use it to post reminders about what happened in class that day. Many students find it helpful to look up their homework on Twitter since the site is more popular with students, and is easier to access than a teacher’s website.

It is understandable that social media is a

useful outlet to connect with people we don’t always see, but these connections can become awkward. Inadvertently coming across a teacher on Twitter can create opportunities for things to become uncomfortable, and LaRoccaGoPo @LaRoccaGoPo

Period 4 AP GoPo: Pls bring textbook on Monday!! @Hill_I_Am1 @Clay_Quintanar 9/14/14, 22:28

disrupt the sweet, mindless escape that social media offers us. The tweets of teachers are reminders that we students still have to go through the pain of schoolwork and projects.

For the record...

On page 2, the headline incorrectly identified Nori Parvin as Lori Parvin. Additionally, Parvin coached for 36 years, not 34, and won 535 games, not 353. On page 5, the headline should read “A whole new world: Exchange students gain a new perspective”. On page 11, Morgan Itchimoto’s name was spelled incorrectly.

Until the social media age, there was a distinct line between one’s life at school and one’s personal life. At school, you were under the supervision of your teachers. Outside of school was a different story. Nowadays, Twitter is seen by many students as a sort of safe haven -- a place where they can express their thoughts on a platform that is distinctly separate from school. Since teachers have joined the equation, though, this sense of safety may be an illusion. Twitter is a public networking site where anyone and everyone can see your posts -- including teachers.

Students need to be aware that what they post is not private if the account is public.

The presence of teachers and authority figures on social media is unchartered territory. As the presence of teachers becomes more and more common, the lines between school and home, as well as educational and personal relationships, continue to blur.

The Panther Prowler deeply regrets and apologizes for any errors we have made. If you spot any errors we have missed, help us correct them by sending mistakes to: prowler.newspaper@gmail.com.

Kellie Levine Opinion Editor This column comes to you from what is sure to be my death bed. For the last week, I have been infected with what I have decided to describe as the modern plague.

And although unlike the plague, this cold is unlikely to literally kill you, it will be sure to kill your academic life for a few weeks while you catch up.

Although I only have what some may refer to as “the common cold,” nothing about this ailment is common for the average high school student. It’s amazing how you can go to every single day of school for months, and no one day seems to be filled with particularly vital information. But then, you get sick and miss a day, and all of a sudden there were two tests, a quiz, lessons on two sections of math (that both look like a foreign language), and an in-class activity that is impossible to make up.

When you find out all that you missed, you push yourself to go back to school the next day to avoid missing anything else and falling even more behind. However, going back early means you miss out on the rest you need to actually get better. So you find yourself in a constant cycle of skipping school to get rest and going back sick to avoid falling behind anymore. It’s impossible for you to catch up with the rest of the class and keep up with the new work being given at the same time for all of your classes, so at least one class has to slip (I’ve chosen Math Analysis, sorry Mrs. Altmire).

So who’s at fault for the ridiculous amount of curriculum crammed into each day? It’s easy to jump straight to placing the blame on the teachers, but does it really make sense that they want to have all of this work to grade everyday? Probably not. There’s simply a lot of information to cram into 135 hours of class time per subject per semester, but teachers would surely spread the workload out more if they had the time. There’s really no way around it: you’re going to have to make up at least 1 1/2 hours of classwork for each class missed, plus any homework, and regardless of how you look at it, it’s going to suck.

But, there is one amazing thing I’ve learned after 12 years of mandatory schooling: teachers are just like us. I know, it’s a shocking revelation, but as fellow humans, the majority of teachers will understand the immense workload students return to after being sick. Openly communicating with your teachers about why you missed class, when you can come in to make things up, and your progress on the make up work will create an environment where navigating your make up assignments is immensely easier, and before you know it, you’ll be caught up.

In the grand scheme of things, missing 1 1/2 hours of these 135 isn’t a big deal, so while you’re making up all of your work this cold and flu season, try to keep your barelyopen-eyes on the big picture. And maybe try to avoid slipping into the dangerous cycle of taking sporadic days off without ever actually getting better. Just take the time you need so you can tackle your mounds of make up work in good health, and be sure to communicate with the fellow human beings we call teachers.

features Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

5

Surprise, Surprise!

Mariana de Maillé named a national finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman scholarship Lindsay Filgas Staff Writer Adrianna Robakowski Entertainment Editor

“We were sitting in class and there was a knock on the door,” said Mariana de Maillé, senior. “And in walks some strangers I didn’t recognize, along with our principal and some of our other administrators, my mom, and a lady dressed up like Wendy (from the fast food chain).”

De Maillé was chosen as a national finalist for the annual Wendy’s High School Heisman scholarship. The Wendy’s fast food franchise created this award twenty years ago to recognize students who embody the Heisman Trophy ideals of excellence. Although there were over 20,000 applicants this year, the national award will be presented to one boy and one girl who go above and beyond in athletics, academics, and community service.

“I think I’ve taken ten (IB and AP) classes but I’ve also completed five college classes,” de Maillé said. “I’m currently enrolled in an additional college class.” On top of her academic successes, de Maillé also has a coaching license for soccer and is a certified disaster relief responder with the Red Cross. “I went through extensive training for that and so I’m able to coach young girls,” de Maillé said.

De Maillé applied for the award a month ago, and was selected as the female state finalist for California. 100 other students, a boy and a girl from each state and one representative from Washington D.C., were also selected as state finalists.

When the awards presenter and school administrators walked into her third period class on Nov. 10, de Maillé had no idea that she had been selected as a national finalist. “They described to the class what it was about and I found out that I was a national finalist which was really surprising -- I had no idea,” de Maillé said.

When Kelly Welch, vice principal of athletics, found out who the winner was, she kept the information confidential so the winner would surely be surprised.

She also planned the walk-in to de Maille’s third period class to maximize the impact of the exciting news. “The committee came to the high school and we did a presentation in her government class,” Welch said.

A total of twelve national finalists, six boys and six girls, were selected. On Dec. 14, they will travel to New York, where the winners will be announced. Even if she isn’t selected as the national winner, de Maillé has won $2000 for the school by being a national finalist. The entire event will be broadcasted live on ESPN from New York.

Smiles with Wendy - Mariana de Maillé poses with “Wendy” and the owner of the Newbury Park Wendy’s after being surprised in her third period government class.

Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Congratulations from Wendy’s, Flowers from Mom - The still-surprised Marianna de Maillé recieves flowers from her proud parents and a handshake from the owner of the local Wendy’s.

Daulton Beck/ Prowler

things you didn’t know about Señora Tisor Spanish Teacher Alyssa Boedigheimer Staff Writer

As a child, her favorite food was pierogi (Polish dumplings).

The #1 most played English song on her iPod is “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and the #1 most played Spanish song is “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias.

Her favorite quote is “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.”

Her worst habit is mindlessly eating too much.

The chore she absolutely hates doing is ironing.

6

suicide Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

{suicide do it for Jakeb the struggle to unite and fight against bullying Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor

“I

think about Jakeb every day. That’s why I’m wearing this bracelet. It says ‘do it for Jakeb’. But every day, I think about his mom, I think about his dad, and I think about his baby sister, and his two brothers. My heart aches for them. It kills me to think what they’re going through, and to realize that they are never going to be okay. That’s what hurts the most. That’s what consumes me. Their baby, gone.”

Michael Conway, physical education teacher, will always remember his cousin Jakeb Norton, who committed suicide a little over a year ago. Conway saw firsthand how much love Norton’s peers had for him, and wants current students to remember that they can always find support.

When Norton’s family heard the news, they were in complete disbelief. Norton had been a straight-A student and showed no signs of depression. He had three younger siblings and supportive parents. “An hour before (we found out), they were out having a bonfire, it was his parent’s anniversary. And an hour later, he was gone,” Conway said.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, searching for a how or why seemed impossible. Conway and his family were convinced that it was an accident, or that Norton was under the influence.

However, it was bullying that led Norton to take his life. “There were no early signs. We found out later on that he was being severely bullied through social media,” Conway said. “It makes me sick to think that (bullying) happens.” Conway’s family, including his niece, Madison Johnson, have responded to Norton’s passing by joining anti-bullying groups such as Rachel’s Challenge, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a safe learning environment and starting “a chain reaction of kindness and compassion,” as stated on their website.

Conway believes that people can say “tiny little things that add up, and those tiny little things can break someone,” but he also thinks that little things can have a positive impact. He says a simple hello can change someone’s life, and urges students to be welcoming and accepting of others. “It doesn’t take a whole lot to ask someone who is by themselves to sit with you at lunch. That could end up being greater than anything you do in life--it may just end up being as simple as that.”

Whether or not his cousin felt loved or accepted by his peers, Conway said, his funeral spoke for itself. Hundreds of people, including classmates, were in attendance. “When you’re suffering so bad, you’re thinking about yourself,” Conway explained. “And whether or not you think that you’re loved, you are. You can be loved by your teachers, your peers, your families. There’s always people out there that love and care about you.”

Norton’s school responded to his passing by making bracelets, like the one that Conway wears daily, that reads “do it for Jakeb.” “These kids (at his high school) made these bracelets to spread the love that he spread,” Conway said. “He touched so many people’s lives.”

Conway wants students to know that they are loved, but also that they can find help from teachers or even professionals if they are suffering. He says that there will always be people to listen to students. “Don’t run away from it, don’t internalize it, don’t keep it inside. Be open about it,” Conway encouraged.

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coping with grief Nevnit Gill Features Editor Tazaieen Sayeda Ad Manager Mariam Syed News Editor

I

how administration responds to suicide

n the event of a student suicide, the school follows a very specific set of procedures that aim to help students through the grieving process while at the same time respect the family’s privacy.

“The first thing is (to) communicate with the family and ask what their wishes are and how they want us to handle the situation as far as communicating with the school community,” said Principal Joshua Eby. “The second thing is to set up a counseling room, where any student who needs to come down and talk (can do so).”

The school’s grief rooms, which may take place in rooms such as the College and Career Center and library, are available so students can go see a school counselor or a school psychologist. The district also sends in counselors from other schools for extra support if needed. “We’re on-call; we wipe our schedules clean to be here (for the students),” said Lesley Drossin, counselor.

“Some kids just want to talk, some kids just need a quiet place, some kids just need a hug, and some kids, we understand, at that point, need to go home,” said Eby. “We provide a space that students can come if they’re not comfortable being in class at that point.”

Madhavi Williams, school psychologist, thinks it is important for school counselors and psychologists to be available to help students through the stages of grieving. “We have to be available for students to help deal with the experience by going into classes and providing crisis counseling,” Williams said.

Sometimes a family wishes to handle the death privately and if that is the case, “we understand that kids are going to know anyways, but we’re not going to publish any information,” said Eby. The counseling sessions would still be available for students who were affected, but the exact details of the situation would be left vague in order to respect the family’s privacy.

Williams added that the information provided to the student body depends entirely on the family’s wishes. “We always have to respect the family’s wishes and only use the information that the family authorizes the district to provide,” she said.

Once a student’s family has been contacted, the situation is handled on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes the school simply acknowledges that a suicide has happened, and offers support and counseling. “Other times we understand that everybody knows,” said Eby. In cases such as these, no large announcement is made. However, according to Eby, the administration does not “want to perpetuate situations where students don’t know something has happened.”

“It’s a very sensitive topic and as a school, we try to handle it professionally and understand that we need to be sensitive to our students and their needs,” said Eby.

a

suicide

7 four years later...

Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

Kellie Levine Opinion Editor Samantha Meyer Chief Photographer

E

e}

{

4600

}

suicides of people ages 10-24 years occur per year at a rate of

{

very November 21, I just think of her all day,” said Kylie Kelleher, junior. “It’s like I’m always carrying a backpack with bricks in it, like there’s this weight. It does get better, but the weight is never really gone. She’s always there. I just want to make sure this doesn’t happen to other people. I don’t want anyone else to ever feel this way.”

Four years ago, when Kelleher was in junior high, one of her closest friends committed suicide. After growing up together, the sudden absence was devastating.

“I started screaming and I don’t know how long I screamed for ... eventually (the police) calmed me down enough to ask questions,” Kelleher said. “But … it’s hard to answer (questions like) ‘what type of music did she listen to?’ when I’m hearing that she’s gone.”

The next day at school, Kelleher was confronted with several different types of reactions. “A lot of people were really kind to me,” Kelleher said. However, not all of the responses were as positive. “There were some kids making jokes about it, and that really hurt.”

Although she was able to find support from her friends and counselor, Kelleher believes the school could have handled the situation better. When grief counselors came in to talk with the friends of the deceased student, Kelleher found that her peers took advantage of the situation to cut class.

In addition to bringing in grief counselors, the school also distributed a formal letter about the incident to the students. When Kelleher saw the flier, she said, “I freaked out in my PE class and they had to escort me out, because I started screaming again. You can’t address losing someone, especially someone so young, with a piece of paper. I think they completely underestimated how big it was.”

Her other contention was that “it seemed like they addressed her death the day after it happened -- on the 22nd, that Monday -- and then they just never talked about it again,” Kelleher said.

For the first two years, Kelleher’s coping mostly consisted of crying. “I was sad more than anything. I didn’t really feel anything other than sadness until freshmen year. Then, I got angry ... I was just so mad, because I couldn’t understand … even now, sometimes I’ll be sitting in class and I’ll start thinking about it. It’s not something you forget. I’ve grieved, but I still think about it.”

Today, Kelleher believes that suicide should not be romanticized or taken lightly. Even though the act could be viewed as selfish, Kelleher say, “I think that suicide is not thinking clearly. It’s reaching this point where you need help, but you’re not going to ask for it anymore. You’ve come to a decision and that’s what it’s going to be. I think it’s a mistake, and I think people who get a second chance have a chance to realize there’s more to it than that.”

For students that are struggling with suicidal thoughts, Kelleher said, “Don’t think that anything is permanent because you’re constantly changing. We all grow and we all change and we just get stuck in the moment. We’re teenagers, we should get stuck in the moment, but we should get stuck in the good moments, not the bad ones. If you’re struggling, just remember that you mean something to someone … even if that person is just me, you mean something to me and everyone else. Every life has so much more impact than you think.”

}

8 deaths per 100,000 people, making it the

3rd leading cause of death

{

in this age group.

81%

}

157,000 young adults per year are treated in emergency rooms for self-inflicted injuries.

of victims are male, while females

make up just

19% of the victims. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/youth_suicide.html

8

features Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

STUDENT

VS

TEACHER

Anthony Cancasci/Sophomore

1

Brianna Harris/Science

8

Rachna Deshpande Staff Writer

When it was first performed in 1971, audiences hated which nowpopular Led Zeppelin song?

Harris: What? I … what does Led Zeppelin even sing?

Cancasci: Stairway to Heaven Answer: Stairway to Heaven

IT’S A TIE! 3-3

C’mon Harris! Life with Led Zeppelin is a better life.

Stairway to Heaven is correct and Cancasci earns a point, leading with 1-0.

I guess that luck wore out, Cancasci.

Although Madonna has music in the pop and electronic genres, she is also considered a rock icon. Harris earns a point and it looks like it’s a tie after all, with the final score at 3-3.

2

7

Playwright Arthur Miller was married to which famous blonde actress?

Harris: Marilyn Monroe Cancasci: I don’t know Answer: Marilyn Monroe

What fictional bear thought he had a “very small brain”?

Harris: Yogi?

Cancasci: Yogi? But he was a smart bear …

Answer: Winnie the Pooh

Point for Harris! The playwright fell for the young Hollywood actress’ blonde locks. But their marriage was short and not-so-sweet, as they divorced after a year. Harris moves the score to 1-1.

3 A goat sucker is what kind of creature?

Harris: A parasite. Does that count?

Like an insect?

Cancasci: Chupacabra?

Answer: Bird We were going for bird, but chupacabra happens to be another name for goat sucker. So, I guess we’ll take it. Point goes to Cancasci!

Score moves to 2-1 with Cancasci still in the lead.

What Rock-Icon-to-be was grounded for the whole summer after sneaking out to her first concert to see David Bowie when she was 15?

Harris: Madonna Cancasci: I don’t know Answer: Madonna

Not saying that Winnie the Pooh isn’t smart, but the honey-loving bear is the correct answer. The score stands at 3-2.

4 Someone who suffers from oneirophobia is afraid of what?

Harris: Birds Cancasci: Pizza!

Answer: Dreams I want to say you’re close … but oneirophobia is the fear of dreams, not birds, and definitely not pizza. The score stays at 2-1 with Cancasci in the lead.

5

6

What is the biggest animal to have inhabited the Earth?

Harris: Megalodon Cancasci: Wooly mammoth Answer: Blue Whale

What famous guitar player was thrown out of school for holding the hand of a white girl in class?

Harris: Jimi Hendrix Cancasci: Jimi Hendrix? I don’t know, he’s the only guitarist I know.

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Those are big … but not quite big enough. The blue whale is the heaviest and largest animal ever known to have existed. Score stays at 2-1.

Lucky guess, Cancasci? The correct answer is indeed Jimi Hendrix. Both players earn a point with a score of 3-2.

Taylor Hertz composing his way to a career

Haley Berardinelli Features Editor An accomplished pianist and violinist, senior Taylor Hertz both plays music and writes it. Over the duration of his musical career, Hertz has composed both piano and orchestral music.

Hertz began his musical journey at a very young age. When Hertz was two, his older sister took piano lessons and would often play Beethoven’s “Für Elise” on their family piano. One day, their parents heard someone playing the song and walked in expecting to see his older sister playing. Instead, they were surprised to see Hertz tapping away at the keys.

Hertz has composed 41 songs for the piano.

“I want (my music) to be as simplistic as possible, but I want it to evoke emotions, I want it to be memorable,” Hertz said. Three years ago, Hertz began collaborating with singer Savanna Voigt, senior, to incorporate vocals into his music. The two met in their sophomore English class. Hertz knew that Voigt was in choir and he needed someone to help him practice a song that he was writing at the time.

“I (had) never heard her sing when I asked her, but I decided to just go for it,” Hertz said.

Now, the two work together to write lyrics for some of Hertz’s songs. “She’s really good to work with. She has a lot of suggestions for me to make (my music) even better than it is,” Hertz said.

Hertz has performed at the Civic Arts Plaza

every year since 2008. In addition, Hertz has won the Spring Festival five times, the Music Teachers Association of California Gold Medal Honors Festival twice, made honors in the Certificate of Merit seven times, and gone to statewide competitions in San Diego and Los Angeles. “Taylor is brilliant and he absolutely loves music … he’s extremely encouraging and always humble,” Voigt said.

In addition to composing on his piano, Hertz also wrote a song for the school orchestra’s winter concert last year. This year, he will again compose a song for the orchestra’s winter concert, titled “Reverie in G Major”.

“I think that Taylor’s compositions always have an ethereal quality to them,” said Tina Huang, Hertz’s orchestra teacher. Huang believes that Hertz’s style is unique, and that his pieces are always deliberate and well thought out.

As his time in high school comes to an end, Hertz has begun preparing his application for Juilliard and is thinking about pursuing music as his career. His goal is to study in Juilliard’s composition department.

“It’s always exciting as a music teacher to see students pursuing music as a profession, and I’m looking forward to seeing him blossom as a composer in the coming years,” Huang said.

Masterpiece - With fifteen years of piano playing experience, Taylor Hertz, senior, hopes to someday have a career in the music industry. Taylor Hertz/ With Permission

entertainment Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

9

No Shave November

Eyebrows are raised, but no hairs are shaved as teachers take on a no-grooming challenge in support of cancer research Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor Daulton Beck Features Editor A handful of teachers have decided to let their razors rust this No-shave November in order to raise awareness for men’s health issues, especially prostate and testicular cancer. Students can donate money to keep their favorite teacher’s beard growing, and all money collected will go towards the Movember foundation to fund cancer research.

As of now, there are four teachers left in the running: Steve Johnson, Scott Ellis, John Abney, and Joe Calaba are left out of a group that originally included Gary Fabricius, William Mulligan, and Rick Sagerman. Currently, Johnson is in the lead.

The challenge was initiated by senior Margaux Jones, head of the ASG Philanthropy Commission, and organized by the commission. “The idea came from a student from another school during a swapping session at a (summer) leadership camp where we send some of our ASG students,” Jones said. “I thought it would be successful at our school.

Who wouldn’t want to see their favorite teachers grow long beards?”

Johnson believes that the event is “a great opportunity to create awareness of men’s health issues,” especially since the movement does not receive as much attention as other causes. “This is one that hits close to home for me, because I’ve had friends and family that have suffered from cancer,” Johnson said.

Win or lose, Johnson will keep his beard growing and only shave at the end of the month. As he usually only shaves the day after graduation, that will be the first day he

Furry faces - Showing off their facial hair, William Mulligan, Scott Ellis, Steve Johnson, John Abney, and Joe Calaba participate in the no-shave November fundraiser to help fund cancer research. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

teaches clean-shaven. However, for teachers such as Ellis, having a beard is a new experience. “It’s different, I’m not used to it at all. Occasionally after lunches I have to check to

see if I have food still stuck in it,” Ellis said.

While Johnson denies any rivalries in the competition, he does say that his beard is “far superior to the others.’”

Here Comes The Next Big Thing: Starter Packs Adrianna Robakowski Copy Editor

“Starter packs” have taken Twitter by storm, and timelines are clogged with collages that are said to define or represent a certain person or group. Three students decided to create a Twitter account for starter packs that are all about students and groups here on campus. Here are a few of them, just for laughs.

NPHS starter packs

NPHS starter packs

NPHS starter packs

@NphsP

@NphsP

@NphsP

NPHS freshman starter pack

11/17/14, 14:20

NPHS seniors starter pack

11/17/14, 14:20

TOHS starter pack

11/17/14, 08:38

NPHS starter packs

NPHS starter packs

NPHS starter packs

@NphsP

@NphsP

@NphsP

NPHS starter pack

Npdt starter pack

Panther pit Starter Pack

11/17/14, 22:56

11/17/14, 00:06

11/18/14. 22:33

10

entertainment Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

Ma(rily)n of la Mancha Strange’s first production is a success Alyssa Boedigheimer Staff Writer Man of la Mancha has gone onstage as Marilyn Strange’s first full production with the theater class. Despite minor setbacks, the class has formed close bonds with each other, as well as with their new director.

Strange has received a positive reaction to her teaching and directing styles from the cast members in her production. “(She’s) a great director because she has a vision and she sticks to it,” said Emily Goldstein, sophomore, who played a prisoner in this year’s performance.

The feeling is mutual; Strange is very confident and pleased with her cast’s talent this year. “They are a talented, professional bunch. They act like professionals, especially when things go the way they aren’t supposed to. They are a fantastic, talented group,” Strange said.

However, Strange’s time directing the Man of la Mancha has not been completely without incident. “(There were) problems with the set and the rehearsals were really long (so) we were burning out,” said Caleigh Jensen, sophomore and cast member. Goldstein agreed with Jensen, saying that there were problems with the microphones and the sets.

Despite these setbacks, Strange said that she is pleased with the output of the performances, especially considering how much work and effort went into the production. The end of the performances has been bittersweet for Strange, who said, “it’s nice to be done and put on this huge production and feel so accomplished with everyone, but it’s sad in the sense that … it’s over very quickly. It’s a little bit of both.”

Standing Ovation - Performing numbers from Man of La Mancha, Kurt Kemper, senior, Micheala Sullivan, sophomore, Natalie Epolene, senior, and Adam Hedelund, senior, sing during their show on Nov. 8. Despite minor setbacks, the show turned out to be a success for the theater department. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

College Application Season Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor Michael Hellard Graphic Artist

In this bizarre ritual, colleges display their brilliant plumage in hopes of attracting eager young students - but only a few will be chosen to attend.

sports

11

Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

THE SEASON OF TOUCHDOWNS

Can’t hold them backback Breaking through Agoura, Cameron Rising, freshman quarterback who now plays for Varsity, keeps the ball and runs up the middle for a first down on Sept.11. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Angela Swartz Staff Writer 1983: that’s the last time the freshman football team went undefeated until this year, when they finished an undefeated season with a 49-7 win against Thousand Oaks.

“It’s always high anticipation playing Thousand Oaks, even if we won all our games before that, since they are our school rivals,” said Kevin Koenig, head freshman football coach.

“It was a really exciting game. It is always fun playing against a rival and it was even more exciting beating them,” added Ryan Cartaino, freshman receiver and free safety.

But their victory wasn’t so easily predicted at the beginning of the season. “We really wanted to set a standard for the freshman team … a lot of our teammates left and went to different schools, just because they thought that the Newbury Park freshmen were going to be a bad group and lose all our games,” said Brandon Solares, freshman linebacker.

“I didn’t think we would go undefeated,” Koenig added.

“Every year we have a lot of work to do. From the first practice, I always think we’ll (win) five and (lose) five -- that sort of deal. But we coach the heck out of them and they definitely improve as a whole as we go on.”

However, the freshman team was able to collaborate and

put forth a team effort to win every one of their league games.

“The kids worked really well together. They really have been playing together for a long time. You can definitely see a lot of team unity,” Koenig said.

The players credit the team’s coaches with leading them through the season. “The head coach is an amazing guy and he is no longer a coach -- he is a friend,” Solares said. “There were many times I wanted to quit but he kept pushing me and without him I don’t think I could’ve made it through the entire season. The other coaches were also amazing, they pushed you to give 100%. And once you gave 100%, they expected more from you. That definitely benefited us and made us tough mentally and physically. And that’s how we were able to get through these powerful teams like Westlake and Thousand Oaks.”

The team hopes to continue their success in the years to come. “We have amazing athletes and I think if we keep playing together for the next four years, we can do some great things,” Solares said.

“We had one goal when we started in the summer,” Cartaino added. “That was to be league champions and go undefeated. When it finally happened, the feeling was overwhelming.”

Marching Band a force to be reckoned with Lindsay Filgas Staff Writer “These forces are working behind the scenes to create everything that we see, hear, feel, and experience … our show is called ‘The Fabric of Reality’,” said Dennis Crystal, director of the marching band.

The 68-student marching band, run by Crystal, spent their four-month season creating a show to perform at competitions.

The theme for this year’s show was the four fundamental forces of nature: gravity, electromagnetic force, strong force, and weak force.

The band practiced for over two hours each day to prepare for competitions. They started their training in summer camps.

Once the school year began, the team practiced three to four days a week, with rehearsals lasting longer and longer as they got closer to the end of their season.

“We’ll spend a lot of intensive time taking each moment and

rehearsing it five (to) 10 times in a row, trying to make sure each one of those details are perfect,” Crystal said.

The band traveled to six different shows during the season, including five competitions and one exhibition. They competed against bands from all over the region. Competitions can have anywhere from 12 to more than 30 bands, which are divided into classes based on their size.

On Nov. 1, the marching band went to College of the Canyons to compete in Hart Rampage, a competition put on by Hart High School. 35 bands attended the event and the NPHS band was in a class of 12. The band finished first in their class.

“It was an okay show, but we could have done better,” said Michael Price, freshman, who plays bass drum in the marching band. “We didn’t win the percussion … but our whole band got first place.”

The next weekend, the band traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas Regional Championships. There were nine schools in their class, and they achieved first out of those nine with their performance that Saturday. The 12 best out of all the classes then competed, and the marching band got tenth overall.

“Compared to how big these bands are, that was a pretty big thing for us,” said senior Matt Carrillo, drum major.

Their final competition of the season was on Nov. 15 at Chino Hills High School. This competition was much smaller, with only 15 bands total, and two in the band’s class. The band won their class and got 12th place overall. It was the first time the marching band had made it to finals in the championship competition. “It was a long, difficult road … but I think we did a really great job this year,” Carrillo said.

12

sports Panther Prowler • Nov. 21, 2014

FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

CROSS COUNTRY

Girls’ Varsity and Frosh-Soph placed first in all three league races. Girls’ Junior Varsity finished third in league.

Boys’ Frosh-Soph finished second and Junior Varsity finished third in all three league races. Varsity placed fourth in league.

Pushing through - Sprinting to the finish line, Brent Kelly, junior, competes in a cluster meet hosted by Newbury Park at Peppertree Park on Oct.16.

Samantha Meyer / Prowler

SECOND IN LEAGUE

GIRLS’ GOLF

Playoffs

Varsity

Finished 7 out of 19 teams at CIF Nothern Regional.

7-4 Overall (6-4) League

Say Cheese- From left to right, seniors Margaux Jones, Jayne Avendano, Sabrina English, and Mariam Syed pose for the camera for their senior photo. Except for English, all the girls have been on the team since their freshman year.

Samantha Meyer / Prowler

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

FOOTBALL

The Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams swept the Camino League.

PLAYOFFS:

56-28

NEXT GAME

versus Righetti High School

Friday Nov. 21

The calm before the storm - Mason Williamson, senior, gives a pre-game pep talk in the teams first playoff game against Righetti on Nov. 14. The game ended with a score of 56-28 and a victory for the Panthers.

Samantha Meyer / Prowler

SECOND IN LEAGUE Varsity

Junior Varsity

4-10 Overall (2-8) League

(3-7) League

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Prepared to win- Warming up before her match aganist Oaks Christian, Alex Howard, senior, rallies with her teammates on Oct. 14, just minutes before the game is scheduled to begin.

Samantha Meyer / Prowler

FIFTH IN LEAGUE Varsity

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

James Herron / Prowler

Junior Varsity Frosh-Soph

4-13 Overall (2-8) League

2-8 Overall (2-8) League

10-0 Overall (10-0) League

Defying gravity - Spiking the ball as she throws herself in the air, Kayla Overbeck, junior, and her teammates play in a scrimmage on Sept. 9.

FOURTH IN LEAGUE Varsity 12-15 Overall (2-6) League

Junior Varsity (6-2) League

Frosh-Soph (0-6) League

Under pressure, under water - Milliseconds away from blocking the ball, Ben Worley, senior, fights against Moorpark at a Varsity home game on Sept. 15.

BOYS’ WATER POLO James Herron/ Prowler